Special Auto/ParaMoto Trike

 The tricycle has served many uses over the years. But the main outlet for the humble three-wheeler appears to be for very small children needing something to sit on in the garden.

Serbian designer Zvezdan Nedeljkovic, however, feels there could be room for a trike in the sky. The designer has managed to combine an adult-sized trike with a propeller system that would be attached to a parafoil allowing it to fly through the air. When you’re finished, the trike then becomes a scooter so you can drive home.

The design appears to have been inspired by the likes of BMW’s hooded scooter and other enclosed two-wheelers that protect the driver with a roof.
Nedeljkovic hasn’t released any information on the logistics of creating the machine, nor whether he’s had any offers from people wanting to build the ParaMoto Trike for him. But what we do know is that it would make commuting to work a lot more interesting.
The Paramoto Trike is designed to have a super-lightweight frame for ease of flying.

»»  read more

Student-built electric car sets world land speed record of 155.8 mph

Brigham Young University (BYU) students are celebrating after setting a new land speed record for an electric car in the "E1" (under 1,100 lbs/499 kg) class. The record of 155.8 mph (250.7 km/h) set by the "Electric Blue" streamliner at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah was averaged over the two required qualifying runs, one of which saw the car reach a speed of 175 mph (281.6 km/h). The record marks the end of a seven year quest by BYU students led by Perry Carter who, having just retired as an associate professor, gets to bow out on top.

With its long, slender shape and enclosed wheels to reduce air resistance, Electric Blue falls into the category of a streamliner. The BYU students modeled the vehicle's body using a wind tunnel program on a computer and custom built it using carbon fiber. The team says the aerodynamic body, in combination with the vehicle's lithium iron phosphate batteries helped the car reach its record-setting speeds.
The Electric Blue was piloted on its two runs by Utah Salt Flats Racing Association president, Jim Burkdoll, and they were certified by the Southern California Timing Association - Bonneville Nations, Inc.
The 155.8 mph time is record-setting rather than record-breaking as there were no prior certified speed runs for the lightweight "E1" class. This is because electric vehicles rely on heavy batteries and engineering a speedy vehicle that complied with the 1,100 pound weight restriction had proved difficult. However, previous unofficial records were in the 130 mph (209 km/h) ballpark, with the BYU team completing a qualifying run of 139 mph (223.7 km/h) last year, but failed to complete the second run when the car rolled, damaging its body.
To put the record in some kind of perspective, the Electric Blue's 155.8 mph record leaves the Tesla Roadster, with a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h), in its wake and is just short of the 176.43 mph (283.9 km/h) record set by the Riches/Nelson E-Race electric motorcycle. The BYU team's effort also outdoes the 161.5 mph (260 km/h) top speed of the TMG EV P001, which broke the lap record for an electric vehicle at the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in August. Although the Electric Blue, with its one inch of ground clearance and extremely wide turning circle, would likely struggle to negotiate the turns on the legendary Nordschleife (northern loop).
Of the roughly 130 BYU students that have worked on the streamliner program over its seven years, about half have been manufacturing engineering technology majors, about 40 percent mechanical engineering majors, and the remainder coming from various other disciplines. While many worked on the car as part of an annual capstone course, most were unpaid volunteers.
"This is a wonderful closure to 31 years of teaching at BYU and many projects," Carter said after the record was certified. "But this is the one that takes the cake. I'm done."

»»  read more

Special Bikes/Orphiro electric motorcycle

The Orphiro Electric Motorcycle is described as a wide body cruiser, and has been built from the ground up by Alexander Steegh and his team from the Fontys University of Applied Science - from the custom drivetrain to the tubular frame and panels. The five Li-ion batteries concealed behind smooth exterior covers are said to offer a range of 60 miles (100 km) and the 72V electric motor offers a top speed of 75 mph (120 kph).

A chunky belt drive connects the motor to the rear wheel, there's a "tank"-mounted console that shows speed and distance with a power switch underneath, and tire-hugging fenders sit atop classic spoked wheels. As you can see from the gallery, disc brakes also feature. Extended front forks, twin headlights and rounded mirrors complete the chopper aesthetic. The recharge time for the batteries is reported to be around 6.5 hours.

The speed and range is probably not going to persuade any hog owner to part with his gas-driven beast like, say, the Lito Sora might, but it does look the business nonetheless.
That's about as much as is being made available at the moment, although Motorcycle USA does say that a price of EUR 49,000 (over US$70,000) has been quoted - which suggests that mass production is unlikely.

(Source: Wired)

»»  read more

Luxury Cars/3 million bucks Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

One of the first big pieces of news to come out of the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show has come from Lamborghini. The previously created concept car the Sesto Elemento will go into mass production! The word comes straight from the mouth of Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann, confirming what has been rumored for a few months now.

The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, an all-carbon-fiber super sports car which made its debut as a concept at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, will enter production in a very limited run and expected to reach customers at the beginning of 2013. The Sesto Elemento is constructed through heavy use of carbon fiber, helping keep weight down to just 2,202 lbs. Built on the lines of the Reventon, the Sesto Elemento sports a 5.2-liter V10 that can hit 0-60 mph time of just 2.5 seconds. The limited edition supercar will come with an e-gear six-speed paddle-shift transmission and an all-wheel drive system.

Engineering chief Maurizio ReggianiIn told: The structure of this car is at the centre of its function. It represents a revolutionary way of building a car. This method is a true breakthrough, and we are extremely excited about what it means for our future.

In addition to the cutting-edge design the tailpipes are made from Pyrosic, a glass and ceramic composite that can withstand temperatures of up to 900 degrees celsius.

Unfortunately, there is some bad news about the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento. First of all, we can probably expect the Sesto to cost more than most of the people reading this article with make in a lifetime. Second, the company will only build 20 examples of the Sesto Elemento so even if you have a couple million (around $3 million) bucks laying around, it might be hard to get your hands on one. Finally, the Sesto Elemento will not be street legal as it is only intended for track purposes so you aren’t likely to see this new hypercar cruising into your local car show.

»»  read more

Special Bikes/Zero Engineering Type 9 Motocycle

Technology developed for and tested in F1 racing often makes its way down to daily drivers. But motorcycles? The Zero Engineering Type 9 Motocycle ($TBA) is proof that what works on four ferociously fast-spinning wheels works on two as well, thanks to a F1-inspired multi-link suspension built from the ground up for a clean look and a superb ride. Other features include a S&S 96" Evo engine, a HD five-speed transmission, and the ability to customize everything from the pegs to the paint job, so your ride is as unique as you.

»»  read more

Brabus Rocket 800 – The World’s Fastest Street Legal Sedan

Over the years, German tuner Brabus has brought us the world’s fastest street legal sedans, like the Brabus Rocket back in 2006 and the Brabus SV12R from 2009. The world debut of the new Brabus Rocket 800 at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show now continues this unique success story. Capable of reaching speeds of 230 mph, the Rocket 800, based on the Mercedes-Benz CLS, is an ungodly fastest street-legal sedan in the world.

Based on the CLS sedan, the Rocket 800 uses the standard E V12 from the current Merc E-Class and tacks on a twin turbocharger, beefing up the already ample 5.5 liter displacement to a gorging 6.3 liters. Here’s where the Rocket and the 800 terms actually come to mean something. Brabus 800 V12 Biturbo engine produces 800 hp and a peak torque of 1,420 Nm (1,047 lb-ft), which in the car is limited to 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft). Backed by a seven-speed automatic, Brabus’ own limited-slip diff and a range of final drive ratios, the Rocket 800 can reach an ultimate speed of more than 230 mph in certain configuaration, but is limited to just 217 mph for on-road excursions. 0-62 mph happens in just 3.7 seconds.

To cope with the added power, the Brabus Rocket 800 received numerous exterior updates that included large air intakes, widened wheel arches, a rear wing and a rear diffuser, in addition to other aerodynamic updates. Inside the Brabus Rocket, drivers are welcomed by an all-leather grey interior combined with high-gloss-polished black piano wood. The car also boasts of an ergonomic driver’s cabin design with a steering wheel with aluminum shift paddles, pedals and footrest.

With its lofty status as one of the fastest luxury sedans in the world, the Brabus Rocket 800 will cost you $582,000.

»»  read more

$16.4 Million Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa – Most Expensive Car Sold At Auction

1957 Ferrari Testa Rossa sets a new record as the most expensive car sold at auction, after fetching $16.4 million at  the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance at Monterey Car Week in California. This red Ferrari  has suffered  damage in the Le Mans 24-hour race and been wrecked in a fire, but has since been professionally restored to its former glory.

The car is the first of Testa Rossa built and was used as a prototype for the many others that came during the 1950s and 1960s. The car has 300-horsepower, a 3.0-liter V-12 engine, a four-speed manual transmission and was used in races in both the U.S. and Europe.

The ultra-rich remain ultra-rich, Swiss-based Ferrari historian Marcel Massini told. The very, very best sells easily and incredibly high. The identity of the seller and the buyer is still unknown.

The previous record for a car sold at auction was the $12 million sale of another 1957 Testa Rossa in Maranello, Italy in 2009.

»»  read more

The Rarest Motorcycle in the World

Pagani Zonda Cinque Custom Bike –

A MotoGP race bike carrying a 800 cc engine alone is able to run fast. What if there was a motorcycle carrying a 7300 cc engine?

The name Pagani Zonda has been a racer’s and automobile lover’s dream-come-true since the company started producing these imposing roadsters. One Zonda model that has captured our attention in the past is the Zonda Cinque, a powerhouse of a supercar that comes with an AMG-sourced 7.3-iter V12 engine that produces north of 680 horsepower with a 0-62 mph time of 3.4 seconds and a 0-124 mph time of just 9.6 seconds.

But for those who like 2-wheeled versions of the Zonda Cinque, a limited edition Pagani Zonda Cinque Custom Bikeis here to scorch the streets, carrying with the heavy duty engineering and designing of its 4-wheeled cousin. Copying the very same theme and color combination, Pagani has created a mean chopper version of the supercar that shall have only 5 pieces available for sale, making it one of the most exclusive the world over. It sports the Cinque’s roof scoop on the gas tank, and the seat is now alcantara, like the car.

»»  read more

The World’s Most Powerful and Fastest Luxury Sedan

Brabus Mercedes SV12 R Biturbo 800 – The World’s Most Powerful and Fastest Luxury Sedan

Dubbed as the Brabus SV12 R Biturbo 800, this power packed Mercedes S Class is in fact the world’s most powerful and fastest luxury sedan which is able to unleash no less than 800 hp (788 bhp / 588 kW) at 5,500 rpm  and 1,420 Nm (1,047 lb-ft) of torque.

The SV12 R Biturbo 800 features a 5.5 liter V12 engine that, thanks to a special crankshaft with longer stroke, precision-balanced piston rods, larger-diameter pistons and corresponding larger cylinder bore, has increased to 6.3 liters. Brabus also installed new turbochargers, a sport exhaust, carbon fiber air intake, four intercoolers and a recalibrated ECU. Performance is understandably brisk, with the benchmark 0-62mph sprint taking just 3.9 seconds, 0-124mph comes up in 10.3 seconds, while the top speed is limited to 217mph.

The Brabus SV12 R Biturbo 800 Mercedes S Class uses a reinforced five-speed automatic transmission to put power to the ground, and a high-performance limited-slip differential with a locking rate of 40 percent is also availableas an option.

These upgrades naturally also include tires capable of handling the speeds this car is capable of. Pirelli or Yokohama offer the matching rubber, in sizes 265/30 (front) and 295/30 (rear). Wheels come in three sizes, from 19 to 21 inches, and in four flavors: three-piece forged and high-gloss polished Brabus Monoblock VI wheels with six double spokes, multi-spoke Monoblock E wheels, Monoblock S wheels with double-spoke design and Monoblock F Platinum Edition forged wheels with cross-spoke design.

The upgrade continues in the cabin, where countless combinations of leather or Alcantara and exclusive wood trim sets are available. The iBusiness multimedia system deserves a special note, as it’s for the very first time that variou

»»  read more

The World’s Most Expensive Motorcycle – Ecosse Titanium Series FE Ti XX

titanium series fe ti xx

Is speed you what you crave? And are you a motorcycle junkie, then it doesn’t get any wilder than this one. Called the Ecosse Titanium Series FE Ti XX, this super bike is the final bike in the Ecosse Moto Works’ Heretic series, which will become the newest most expensive motorcycle in the world, costing a cool $300,000.

The world’s most expensive motorbike comes with some amazing features too. A 2,409cc billet engine with Ecosse’s highest ever horsepower figure: 225 hp at the rear wheel! It also has a carbon fiber finish, while the saddle comes from high-end Italian leather maker Berluti, and it’s exhaust pipes have a ceramic media shot-peened finish on grade-9 titanium. Only 13 units of this limited edition series will hit the roads.

Ecosee tells Basem Wasef at About.com that the first batch is going to China. Moreover, a client has ordered one unit without fluids so that he can display it as a sculpture in his home. He’s opted for the bike in his daughter’s favorite color and has christened it in her honor.

But this Ecosse Titanium Series FE Ti XX won’t be king forever. When it’s released, the upcoming ES1 model will usurp the crown with a $350,000 price tag.

»»  read more

BMW's Electric and Plug-In Cars Revealed

BMW revealed two new electric, hybrid, and range-extended models -- the BMW i3 electric car and the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid -- at a special press conference in Frankfurt earlier today.

GreenCarReports editor John Voelcker is there, and he's managed to snap some up-close shots of the "Drive" powertrains of these vehicles, along with their advanced "Life" carbon-fiber bodies, which would have the most extensive use of carbon fiber in a mainstream, relatively affordable vehicle yet.

BMW i3

The rear-wheel-drive i3, which appears to be chasing the Nissan Leaf, albeit in a higher price bracket, has its 170-hp motor system mounted in back, under the cargo area. Range is an estimated 93 miles, and BMW claims that with quick charging it can get back to 80-percent charge in less than an hour.

Both models have been teased for years -- the i3 as the Megacity EV, and the i8 as Vision EfficientDynamics design study vehicles.

In the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports coupe, the battery pack fits into the drive tunnel, with a new 1.5-liter, three-cylinder, direct-injected version of BMW's new modular engine family mounted in front, hooked to a yet-unidentified dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). Especially noteworthy is that even this model has an electric-only mode that will last up to 20 miles.

BMW i8

But that's not all; BMW announced plans to offer the range-extending option, called REx, in the i3, though the range-extended model would have a range greater than that of the Chevrolet Volt.

There's still no word on pricing, which could be the key to the i3's success if BMW builds them in the volumes it's anticipating.

Though still technically concepts, both models could closely reflect what we might see on streets between a year and two years from now. See these posts at All Cars Electric for more details on the BMW i3 electric car and i8 plug-in hybrid, and stay tuned for a more in-depth technical analysis and other updates regarding both models; and in the meantime, click through the images in the gallery

»»  read more

Terrafugia Flying Car Ready For The Road

Terrafugia Flying Car

A few months ago we wrote about The Transition – Terrafugia’s Flying Car and now – the world’s first flying car of the 21st century is ready for the road. Flying Car (described by the company as a roadable aircraft) has finally received regulatory clearance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration allowing it to take the road when it hits the market next year.

Terrafugia’s Transition is the first combined flying-driving vehicle to receive such special consideration from the Department of Transportation since the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards came into being in the 1970s,the Woburn, Massachusetts-based Terrafugia Inc. said in a statement.

Thanks to the new exemptions granted from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the vehicle can now use a polycarbonate windshield instead of those laminated safety glasses used on regular cars and special tires, allowing it to withstand the stress of landings. The Transition’s tires are rated for highway speeds and the vehicle’s weight and fit in the same classification as SUVs and light trucks, but they weigh only a fraction of other tires in its class. The exemption makes this OK.

The Transition, which has completed several successful test flights, is expected to enter production in late 2012.

»»  read more